Pittsburgh's 27 unanswered points deal Rutgers 41-21 loss

PITTSBURGH – The obvious excuse and easy rationale for Rutgers’ lackluster performance today is that the emotional toll of a difficult week finally surfaced at the worst possible time.

Except no one associated with the team, from head coach Greg Schiano on down, was willing to concede that emotion – either too much or too little — played any role in the Scarlet Knights’ 41-21 Big East loss to Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.

Playing in its first game since defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down after making a tackle last week against Army, Rutgers threw in a total clunker.

Rutgers defense collapses in a 41-21 drubbing at Pittsburgh

Rutgers defense collapses in a 41-21 drubbing at PittsburghOff the heals of two late wins, the Rutgers defense collapsed, allowing 513 yards in a 41-21 loss at Pittsburgh. The Scarlet Knights were tied 14-14 at the half, before being outscored 27-7 to end the game. Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri threw for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)

Pittsburgh shows their support for Eric LeGrand

Pittsburgh shows their support for Eric LeGrandA banner sat on campus this week reading âÂÂPitt is Pulling for Eric LeGrand.âÂÂ The Rutgers defensive tackle was paralyzed while making a tackle last week versus Army. By game time, the banner had collected thousands of signatures. Pittsburgh student athletes also handed out stickers to nearly every fan who passed through the gates. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)

Is Rutgers any better then a .500 football team?

Is Rutgers any better then a .500 football team?Star-Ledger reporters Tom Luicci and Dave Hutchinson dissect the Scarlet Knight’s 41-21 loss at the hands of Pittsburgh and discuss the impact emotion may have played in the games outcome. Luicci gives his projection on the team’s final record. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)

An emotional day as Rutgers and Pittsburgh football honor Eric LeGrand

An emotional day as Rutgers and Pittsburgh football honor Eric LeGrandIt started with a banner sitting on Pittsburgh campus that by game time collected thousands of signatures. Pittsburgh student athletes handed out stickers to nearly every fan who passed through the gates. Each Rutgers helmet had a sticker that read believe. And before game time, fans were asked to applaud loud enough to “hear it back in New Jersey.” Each was a show of support for Rutgers defensive tackle Eric Legrand, who was paralyzed last weekend while making a tackle in a game against Army. Players said that LeGrand stayed in their minds during the game. (Video by Michael Monday/The Star-Ledger)

But was it the cumulative stress from LeGrand’s situation, simply a bad game, or a matter of catching a rising Pittsburgh team at the wrong time?

The latter two seemed to be the near-unanimous reasons cited in the Knights’ locker room after Panthers quarterback Tino Sunseri & Co. carved up Rutgers’ usually-stout defense for 513 yards.

“Emotion was not a factor,” said safety Khaseem Greene. “We came out ready to play. To Pitt’s credit they played well and beat us up. That’s all it was. Nothing else.”

Schiano put it in much more basic football terms.

“We got whupped in all three phases,” he said.

He said he “didn’t sense anything either way” in terms of his team’s state of mind.

“They were ready to play come kickoff,” he said.

They just didn’t. Now they have to be worried about their season spiraling out of control after falling to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

The offensive line, sieve-like all season, gave up seven more sacks. That’s 33 now. The defense was careless tackling and wasn’t able to slow Pitt in the passing game (Sunseri was 21-of-27 for a career-high 307 yards and three TDs) or on the ground (Dion Lewis rushed for 130 of Pitt’s 206 yards).

Throw in a costly Jordan Thomas fumble early in the third quarter and a couple of poor punts by Teddy Dellaganna that followed, and a 14-14 halftime tie seemed to turn into a 41-14 Pittsburgh romp in an eye blink.

“I don’t know what happened,” said linebacker Antonio Lowery. “I looked up at the scoreboard and we were down 20-something points and I was like ‘How did that happen?’ We were ready to play. We just didn’t play our game. That had nothing to do with Eric’s situation.”

Pittsburgh (4-3 overall, 2-0 Big East) paid tribute to LeGrand with a banner displayed in the stadium that read: Pitt is pulling for Eric LeGrand. Stickers reading the same were handed out at the turnstiles. There was also a moment of applause just before kickoff.

So LeGrand’s presence was felt.

Rutgers just couldn’t channel it into something positive on the field.

After Chas Dodd moved Rutgers 49 yards for a touchdown on its opening drive, the unit didn’t reach the end zone again until 1:30 remained in the game. By then, Tom Savage was the quarterback.

“This was a tough situation but I think we approached it right,” said cornerback Brandon Bing, who recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. “Tackling, carrying out your assignments, making plays defensively -- none of that was because of Eric’s situation. We just didn’t play well at all.”